Northern Democratic Party

The Northern Democratic Party was a leg of the Democratic Party during the 1860 presidential election, when the party split in two factions because of disagreements over slavery. The Democratic Party held three conventions before the election, one in Charleston and two in Baltimore. Senator Stephen A. Douglas was nominated by the Northern wing of the party and Vice President John C. Breckinridge was nominated by the Southern wing of the party. Both candidates lost to Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln, who presided over the American Civil War. The Northern Democratic Party can also refer to other Civil War-era factions of the party.